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Poem
December 2, 1775
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
An anonymous submission to Dixon & Hunter's 1775 almanack responds to their poem on justice with a counterpart lamenting justice's decline, driven out by fraud, force, and anarchy, which now bring desolation to the country. Includes a Dryden motto on Astraea's flight.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
POET'S CORNER.
Mess. DIXON & HUNTER,
In your Almanack for this present year, 1775, you have given us a piece upon JUSTICE, as follows:
Justice must be from violence exempt,
But Fraud's her only object of contempt:
Fraud in the fox, Force in the lion dwells.
But Justice both from human hearts expels.
But he's the greatest monster, without doubt,
Who is a wolf within, a sheep without.
The hint at this time was very good, but as it has passed unnoticed, or at least I think the precept has been often violated, I have sent you a composition which may serve as a counterpart to the above; also the two following lines, which I have chosen as a motto.
From hence Astraea took her flight, and here
The prints of her departing steps appear. ----DRYDEN.
JUSTICE, that heretofore was of such fame,
Is almost dwindled to an empty name;
For now, alas! she is from mankind driven,
And finds no residence on this side Heaven;
For Fraud and Force have now usurped her throne,
And to the blissful regions she is flown.
And now a phantom, hideous to behold,
Who did preside o'er chaos realms of old,
Anarchy by name, rears her distracted head,
More dangerous than despotism, this ruined country's dread,
With Discord and Confusion attending on her train,
Chief favourites and partners of her former reign;
And with gigantic strides they overleap all bound,
Hurling DESOLATION all the country round!
Mess. DIXON & HUNTER,
In your Almanack for this present year, 1775, you have given us a piece upon JUSTICE, as follows:
Justice must be from violence exempt,
But Fraud's her only object of contempt:
Fraud in the fox, Force in the lion dwells.
But Justice both from human hearts expels.
But he's the greatest monster, without doubt,
Who is a wolf within, a sheep without.
The hint at this time was very good, but as it has passed unnoticed, or at least I think the precept has been often violated, I have sent you a composition which may serve as a counterpart to the above; also the two following lines, which I have chosen as a motto.
From hence Astraea took her flight, and here
The prints of her departing steps appear. ----DRYDEN.
JUSTICE, that heretofore was of such fame,
Is almost dwindled to an empty name;
For now, alas! she is from mankind driven,
And finds no residence on this side Heaven;
For Fraud and Force have now usurped her throne,
And to the blissful regions she is flown.
And now a phantom, hideous to behold,
Who did preside o'er chaos realms of old,
Anarchy by name, rears her distracted head,
More dangerous than despotism, this ruined country's dread,
With Discord and Confusion attending on her train,
Chief favourites and partners of her former reign;
And with gigantic strides they overleap all bound,
Hurling DESOLATION all the country round!
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Political
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Justice Decline
Fraud Force
Anarchy Desolation
1775 Almanack
Astraea Flight
Poem Details
Subject
Counterpart To Almanack Piece On Justice In 1775
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Justice, That Heretofore Was Of Such Fame,
Is Almost Dwindled To An Empty Name;
Anarchy By Name, Rears Her Distracted Head,
More Dangerous Than Despotism, This Ruined Country's Dread,